The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-11
THE INDIANA BUDGET.
Death Of Robert McKim, Prominent Cltizsn
Of Madison.
From the Coal FIelds-Opposed to the
Banks-Narrow Escape From Death
Other Specials.

MADISON, May 9-Mr. Robert McKim.
one of the most prominent and respected
citizens Of Southern Indiana, died this
morning at 1915. He had been sick about
three weeks. He was born in Ireland,
County Tyrone, May 81, 1916. Having
completed his apprenticeship as a stone.
mason, he was married and Immediately
afterward emigrated to this country, land
ing in Philadelphia, where he remained for
about fifteen months as a journeyman at
his trade; but reading and hearing of the
prosperity and advantages OF the far West
for young men of industry, he determined
to try his fortunes in this then sparse
ly settled section of the country, and
landed in this city in the fall of 1887, his
entire capital consisting of his skill as
mechanic, and he has made it his home
ever since. Here he diligently applied him
self to his profession until 1855, when he
formed partnership with the late Festus
l.. Thompson in the coal business, and has
given it his personal attention ever since.
Years ago he made some fortunate
Investments in real estate in indianapolis.
BY bis frugality and good business
judgn ent in the investment OF his surplus
tnrds. be had become large stakeholder
in the First National Bank, the McKim-
cochran Furniture Company, the magnifi-
cent new cotton mill company, and many
minor manufacturing establishments. The
public had so much confidence in his
ssgacity and well.ear reputation as an
homo, able and safe business man, that the
stockholders of the First National Bank
on its reorganization some years ago
elected him as its president and
its credit and standing among the
first institutions of the kind in the
country. The stockholders Of the J. NJ. and
1. Railroad Company also recognized his
qualifications by placing him on the Board
of Directors. He has always been a great
lover of astronomy, and after years of hard
toll, feeling himself financially able to In
dulge his tastes somewhat in this respect,
he purchased for his own private use one
of the finest telescopes in the the country,
and he built ar mounted it in an observa-
tory adjoining his residence which is
so thoroughly equipped with maps
and charts that il is acknowl-
edged to be one of the largest and
best private observatories in this country.
He has been exceedingly liberal in his be-
quests to all public charities and institu-
tons of learning, among them the Madi-
son library, which he has almost wholly
maintained during these later years of its
existence. For years past he has been a
yearly contributor to Trinity Church, of
this city, which owes much of its prosper
ity and all of its solid and massive mag
niicence to his skill as mechanic and his
hberslity, he having superintendent its con-
struction from foundation to steeple. The
DePauw University at Greencastle has
been the recipient of his most princely
public gift, in tie shape of
complete astronomical outfit for its
observatory, including the necessary build
ings, at cost of over $4,000, and which
the trustees of the institution have done
honor to themselves by naming the "Mc-
Kim Observatory" One of the most re-
markable features of his life is the fact
that he has never used tobacco in any
shape or form, and has religiously eschewed
the use of liquor in any shape as bever-
age.